The Cooper Union Open Source Mechanical Tester is used to measure position and load on a sample undergoing standard tests. It is designed with the testing of tissue properties in mind, but can be customized for other uses. Check out the tests page for video and sample test results.

The build cost of the tester is roughly $5,000, mainly in sensor costs. Building the tester requires a lathe but no mill, but some ingenuity in redesinging parts around availible equipment may get around this requirement. See the build page for more details and parts.

The software is written in python. You need to have installed NIDaq MX to use the software. To run the software open mechtest.exe in the folder. There is a known bug in that sometimes the software wont close, even if you click the “x”. You need to close the software by killing the process in task manager.